Eton Mess - A Classic British Dessert | Greedy Gourmet

Question 1

What is Eton Mess?

Accepted Answer

Eton Mess is a classic British dessert, which consists of cut fruit, freshly whipped cream, and with pieces of meringue thrown in. My Eton Mess is made out of freshly cut strawberries.

The term "mess" comes from the way it is put together. Usually, you throw everything together on a plate or in a clear cup, and yes, it looks like a mess! Presentation is not the most important thing when it comes to this dessert. It’s the taste that leaves you with a smile on your face.

Question 2

What ingredients does an Eton Mess contain?

Accepted Answer

A strawberry mixture or a mix of other fruits with meringue, whipped cream and sugar.

Question 3

Where did Eton Mess originate?

Accepted Answer

Surprise, surprise, Eton Mess is originally from the town Eton in the UK. More specifically, from Eton College.

Some say, that Eton Mess was discovered there by accident during an annual cricket match, back in the early 1900’s. Apparently, someone had dropped their meringue on the floor and served it anyway. Others say that the Eton Mess can be credited to a Labrador dog who accidentally sat on someone’s picnic basket, crushing everything inside.

Question 4

Can I use pre-made meringue for Eton Mess?

Accepted Answer

For this recipe, you can either purchase pre-made meringue or you can make it yourself. Alternatively, you can use homemade meringue cookies or store-bought meringue cookies.

Generally, I recommend using fresh meringue for the Eton Mess. However, I completely understand if you decide to go for the pre-made stuff. If you do decide to buy the meringue, then be careful in terms of where you buy it. Sometimes, it’s best to buy it directly in the bakery. The latter makes it super fresh, so there is almost no difference in taste. I can’t say the same for the supermarket counterpart.

If you make your own, ensure you use a clean, large bowl to get those all-important stiff peaks. Wipe the bowl with lemon juice and kitchen paper to be sure.

Question 5

What are the best strawberries for Eton Mess?

Accepted Answer

The original Eton Mess recipe calls for strawberries. Obviously, if you buy fresh strawberries from the farmer’s market, your dessert will have tons of fresh flavour. No need to add too much icing sugar because you’ll want to preserve the fresh taste of the strawberries. With store-bought strawberries, you’ll need to add more sugar, in my opinion. Personally, I don’t like when there is too much sugar in desserts. It throws off the balance of flavours.

Question 6

What's the best cream to use for Eton Mess?

Accepted Answer

Fresh, heavy whipping cream is an absolute must for this recipe. You want that nice fluffy texture in your dessert, something that stuff from a can simply won't achieve.

To get the perfect whipped cream, you’ll need to whip it with an electric mixer. Wait until there are soft peaks forming on top. Just be careful not to over-whip otherwise you’ll have butter! If you over-whip, no worries, just add a little bit of liquid cream and mix gently with a spatula. Eventually, the lumps should disappear.

Question 7

How do you add extra flavor to an Eton Mess?

Accepted Answer

The beauty of making an Eton Mess is that it is super versatile. You can spice it up with a dash of port, rum, cognac, or brandy very easily. Just don’t add too much. I think a little bit of port is a perfect addition. If you're not a fan of alcohol, then you can add any type of cordial. Again, don’t add too much otherwise the Eton Mess will become rather syrupy and soggy.

I recommend adding a strawberry coulis or any fruit curd to the mixture if you wish for the dessert to have extra flavor. Some people add fruit jam and are perfectly happy with the result. I just like to add more fresh strawberries.

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